YearToAvoid

2019 Kia Sorento Engine Problems

Engine problems account for 176 of 426 complaints (41%) on the 2019 Kia Sorento, with a median failure mileage of 65,000 miles. NHTSA records 11 fires and 4 injuries tied to this area. No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this specific issue.

Engine complaints
176
41% of 426
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
11
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
65,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe sudden engine fires starting under the hood while driving, sometimes with white or gray smoke appearing right before flames.
  • Some drivers reported an engine rattle or knocking noise while accelerating, followed by stalling with no warning lights displayed.
  • Several complaints mention the vehicle catching fire with no prior check-engine light, service warning, or mechanical symptom.
  • A few owners noticed the check engine light come on shortly before smoke and fire developed from the engine bay.
  • One owner reported the engine stopped working entirely on the highway just before smoke and fire were seen in the engine compartment.

When 2019 Kia Sorento engine complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 24, 2018, latest Sep 4, 2026.

2019 Kia Sorento engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter192018 Q32020 Q12021 Q22023 Q12024 Q12025 Q12026 Q1
176 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q3 (19).

Engine recalls for the 2019 Kia Sorento

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Sorento model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20101 (33%)
  2. 2011359 (24%)
  3. 2012490 (56%)
  4. 2013521 (53%)
  5. 2014422 (43%)
  6. 2015377 (50%)
  7. 2016748 (60%)
  8. 2017414 (51%)
  9. 2018115 (45%)
  10. 2019176 (41%)
  11. 202069 (51%)
  12. 202174 (30%)
  13. 202263 (33%)
  14. 202341 (34%)
  15. 20246 (15%)
  16. 202524 (32%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems in the 2019 Kia Sorento?
NHTSA lists 176 engine-related complaints for the 2019 Sorento, which is 41% of all 426 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2019 Kia Sorento engine fires?
NHTSA data provided here shows no related recall listed for this engine complaint category, though owners have reported multiple fire incidents.
At what mileage do engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for engine-related complaints on the 2019 Sorento is 65,000 miles.
Did the 2019 Sorento engine issues cause any injuries or crashes?
NHTSA records 4 injuries, 3 crashes, and 11 fires connected to engine complaints on the 2019 Sorento.
How does the 2019 Sorento compare to other Sorento years for engine complaints?
The 2019 model's 41% engine complaint share is lower than years like 2016 (60%) and 2013 (53%), but still a significant portion of total complaints.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.